Luis Enrique falls; Luis de la Fuente, new coach
Spain has a brand new coach. The Spanish Federation has not wished to extend the uncertainty and after saying the goodbye of Luis Enrique has formalized the promotion of Louis of the SupplyTill now U-21 coach. The Asturian leaves lower than 48 hours after the defeat within the spherical of 16 towards Morocco and the sensation of failure within the World Cup. He does so with the thanks of the RFEF, who bid him farewell with honours, however with the will to start out a brand new part.
The appointment of Luis de la Fuente has but to undergo the RFEF Board of Administrators, a easy formalism. When accredited, it will likely be introduced on Monday, December 12 at 12:30 p.m. within the Luis Aragonés room of Ciudad del Fútbol. He’ll signal till the top of Euro 2024.
De la Fuente takes over on the bench after imposing essentially the most steady and pacifying choice, though not with out danger. Alongside the way in which, the tracks of Marcelino and Roberto Martínez remained. The brand new selector was examined as quickly because it was recognized that the renewal of Luis Enrique it was already an unimaginable matter. He, as at all times, made himself obtainable to the home. It’s a main problem for him, however he has by no means shied away from difficulties. He has by no means educated within the First Division or within the Second Division, however on the head of the decrease classes he has amply demonstrated his value.
De la Fuente (Haro, 61 years outdated), joined the Federation in 2012 after working laborious on the Athletic subsidiary bench and training Alavés for a brief time period. He began with the under-19 group, to which he made European champion in 2015. In that group had been, amongst others, Unai Simón, Rodri, Mikel Merino, Ceballos and Marco Asensio. He additionally went by means of the sub-18 earlier than taking cost of the sub-21 in the summertime of 2018. A yr later he repeated his success, reaching the Eurocup within the class. Unai Simón was as soon as once more in his squad, and in addition Dani Olmo, Oyarzábal, Fornals, Mikel Merino, Carlos Soler, Fabián… Final yr he additionally took over the management of the Olympic group on the Tokyo Video games, the place he reached the silver medal after solely dropping within the last towards Brazil. A great a part of the spine of the group that has participated within the World Cup was already there.
Earlier than his debut as a selector befell. As a result of De la Fuente, formally, already made his debut on the Spanish bench within the pleasant towards Lithuania previous to final yr’s Euro Cup, during which the sub-21 group changed absolutely the group, locked up in Las Rozas after Busquets’ optimistic.
That’s, maybe, the principle advantage of the brand new coach. His intensive data of the gamers who should form the way forward for the group. The overwhelming majority of him has handed by means of his arms and is aware of his character, his strengths and weaknesses and his capacity to carry out with the nationwide group.
Educated and calm, De la Fuente is a person of deep spiritual convictions, very delicate and dedicated to all social causes. His arrival on the bench additionally means a change within the relationship between the media and the pinnacle of the nationwide group. A stage of moderation is coming. With the press he’s shut and pleasant.
Athletic, the place he performed eight seasons, is his downfall. His physique additionally betrays his love for the game. He practices it often, nearly obsessively.
De la Fuente will make his debut on the bench subsequent March, coinciding with the beginning of the qualifying part for Euro 2024. The primary recreation will likely be on March 25, with Erling Haaland’s Norway as a rival. De la Fuente will debut at house. Three days later (March 28) he’ll journey to Scotland to play the second recreation.
The following problem will likely be in June. Spain the title of the Nations League within the Netherlands will likely be performed towards the host group, Croatia and Italy. The draw for the semifinals will likely be in January.
